YSM Issue 95.1

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&By Odessa GoldbergFISHY DRIVING: CANFISH NAVIGATE OUTSIDEOF WATER?By Eva SythGoldfish are able to drive vehicles, suggests a new studyfrom researchers at Ben-Gurion University of theNegev, Israel. Yes, you did read that correctly. Theresearchers studied the concept of domain transfer methodology,which refers to when a species applies an existing skill in anenvironment outside its own. In this study, the researchersinvestigated the ability of goldfish to transfer navigation skillsfrom aquatic to terrestrial environments.To carry out this study, the researchers constructed a FishOperated Vehicle (FOV), consisting of a rectangular prism-shapedfish tank mounted on wheels. When the fish swam to an edge ofthe tank, the FOV would move in the direction of that edge. Totest the terrestrial navigation capabilities of the goldfish in thestudy, the researchers mounted a colored panel on the wall of theexamination room. The goldfish received a food pellet rewardwhen they drove the FOV to the panel. The researchers found thateven after changing the panel’s location or adding decoy panels,the goldfish were able to reach the panel consistently.The results of this successful goldfish navigation led to severalkey findings. For example, goldfish are cognitively able to learntasks outside their natural environment. Additionally, while youlikely won’t catch a goldfish driver cruising down the highwayalongside you anytime soon, the success of the goldfish navigationskills in both aquatic and terrestrial environments implies apotential universality in spatial representation, whether in wateror on land. ■PALM READING ISN’T A MYTH:WHAT FINGERPRINTS TELL USABOUT LIMB DEVELOPMENTCome, come! Enter my ancient and mysterious tent whereI can tell you your fears, dreams, and futures with onlya glance at the palm of your hand. Well…maybe notexactly, but I could tell you about the expression of your gene,EV11. A group of scientists from the International HumanPhenome Project decided to compare people’s fingerprints totheir genomes. They found forty-three regions of interest butfocused on the EV11 gene, which is involved in regulating howyour limbs develop in the womb. So instead of your future,fingerprints may actually reveal the length of your fingers or yourrisk of leukemia. Fingerprint readings are a serious business.Certain patterns on your hands, such as skin patterning orpalm creases, are associated with congenital genetic disorderslike Down’s syndrome. These interrelated traits suggest thatgenes associated with fingerprint development are pleiotropic,meaning that the same genes affect multiple traits with differentphenotypes. These scientists plan to further investigate howexactly this pleiotropic mechanism works. Perhaps fingerprintscould be used as a diagnostic tool in the future. So, I may notbe able to read your future by studying your palms, but bystudying your fingertips, I could tell you about your embryoniclimb development. And that’s pretty cool. ■4 Yale Scientific Magazine March 2022 www.yalescientific.org
The Editor-in-Chief SpeaksMICROSCALE POWERThis year marks the second anniversary of the ongoing COVID-19pandemic. Heading into 2022, we are grateful for the science andtechnology that have allowed us to approach a post-pandemic world.The first vaccines, composed of tiny strands of mRNA, were critical stepsto overcoming the hardships and suffering caused by the virus. Currently,researchers are finding novel methods to combat variants and make vaccinesmore accessible, missions at both cellular and societal levels. Science as a wholeparallels these themes—the smallest agents can have the largest effects.In this issue of the Yale Scientific Magazine, our articles highlight themeticulous nature of the world around us, from the influence of microorganismson the greater environment (pg. 19) to the molecular structures that makephotosynthesis possible (pg. 22). In our minds, subtle shifts in personal mentalstates can interact with interpersonal communication (pg. 14) while small butpowerful changes can replicate human SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice, sheddinglight on how to best treat infection (pg. 16).Our cover article spotlights an example of the seemingly minor affecting thelargest of phenomena: natural disasters. Researchers developed machine learningmodels using factors in urban Himalayan environments to indicate the risk fornatural hazards (pg. 12). These discoveries reveal the power of a single unit in a largernetwork and how investigating the minuscule leads to learning about ourselves, theenvironment, and potential solutions to global issues.In this era of pervasive interconnectedness, often too vast to comprehend, weare reminded that the actions of one do impact the world—beyond one’s uniquelyperceived world. Regarding the pandemic, heroic sacrifices of front-line workersand individuals doing their part to protect the greater community all contribute to acontinued inhabitance of the “new normal.” We must respect each human existenceas a distinct impression and perspective; each human contribution is undoubtedlyinvaluable, especially in scientific endeavors. For example, Kate Pundyk ’22 (pg. 34)brings a unique perspective on the intersection between social policy and technology,and James Diao’s ‘18 (pg. 35) integration of machine learning with pathology is alreadyhelping develop wearable medical technologies.With the beautifully intricate connections between the micro and macro levelsin which society and science operate, we would like to express our most sinceregratitude to everyone who participates and contributes to the Yale Scientific team—mentors, staff members, and masthead alike. Our partnership with Yale Science andEngineering Association and the Yale Alumni Association has also been essential forour ability to communicate beyond Yale’s campus. Finally, thank you to each and everyreader for giving us the opportunity to share these stories and discoveries.About the ArtJenny Tan, Editor-in-ChiefThis issue’s cover illustrates justsome of the natural disasters—flooding and earthquakes—thatoccur in the Himalayan region.A new machine learning modelmay help assess the risk of naturaldisasters in micro-urbanizedregions and allow for betterpreventative measures.Anasthasia Shilov, Cover ArtistMASTHEADMarch 2022 VOL. 95 NO. 1EDITORIAL BOARDEditor-in-ChiefManaging EditorsNews EditorFeatures EditorSpecial Sections EditorArticles EditorOnline EditorsCopy EditorsScope EditorsWebsite EditorPRODUCTION & DESIGNProduction ManagerLayout EditorsArt EditorCover ArtistPhotography EditorBUSINESSPublisherOperations ManagerAdvertising ManagerSubscriptions ManagerOUTREACHSynapse PresidentsSynapse Vice PresidentSynapse Outreach CoordinatorsSynapse Events CoordinatorWEBWeb ManagersHead of Social Media TeamSocial Media CoordinatorsSENIOR STAFF WRITERSHannah BarsoukRyan Bose-RoyRayyan DarjiKrishna DasariAlex DongSTAFFTejita AgarwalLuna AguilarGaukhar AlzhanovaRyan Bose-RoyKelly ChenPatryk DabekSophia DavidDanielle de HaerneChris EsneaultOdessa GoldbergSaacchi GrewalBella GuzmanSydney HirschElisa HowardEunsoo HyunHannah HanElisa HowardCindy KuangSophia LiDhruv PatelMaya KhuranaIva KnezevicCatherine KwonTiffany LiaoElizabeth LinCynthia LinCrystal LiuDaniel MaAnjali ManglaCindy MeiChloe NieldGonna NwakuduDhruv PatelHimani PattisamAlexandra PaulusJenny TanTai MichaelsMaria Fernanda PachecoMadison HouckAlex DongSophia LiCindy KuangEthan OlimTori SodeindeBreanna BrownsonHannah HanKayla YupAnna CalameHannah HuangMeili GuptaCatherine ZhengAnn-Marie AbunyewaBrianna FernandezMalia KuoAnasthasia ShilovJenny WongJared GouldLauren ChongSophia BurickShudipto WahedKrishna DasariLucy ZhaRayyan DarjiHannah BarsoukRisha ChakrabortyBella XiongKatherine MoonEmily ShangAnavi UppalAbigail JolteusElizabeth WatsonRaquel SequeriaAnavi UppalKayla YupYusuf RasheedNoora SaidSydney ScottHannah ShiGeorgia SpurrierKatrina StarbirdEva SythZeki TanConnie TianIsabel TrindadeVictoria VeraSherry WangNorvin WestNathan WuSophia ZhaoThe Yale Scientific Magazine (YSM) is published four times a year by YaleScientific Publications, Inc. Third class postage paid in New Haven, CT06520. Non-profit postage permit number 01106 paid for May 19, 1927under the act of August 1912. ISN:0091-287. We reserve the right to editany submissions, solicited or unsolicited, for publication. This magazine ispublished by Yale College students, and Yale University is not responsiblefor its contents. Perspectives expressed by authors do not necessarily reflectthe opinions of YSM. We retain the right to reprint contributions, both textand graphics, in future issues as well as a non-exclusive right to reproducethese in electronic form. The YSM welcomes comments and feedback. Lettersto the editor should be under two hundred words and should include theauthor’s name and contact information. We reserve the right to edit lettersbefore publication. Please send questions and comments to yalescientific@yale.edu. Special thanks to Yale Student Technology Collaborative.
Page 1 and 2: Yale ScientificTHE NATION’S OLDES
Page 3: CONTENTSMore articles online at www
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Page 9 and 10: NeuroscienceNEWSDELVING INTODOPAMIN
Page 11 and 12: PhysicsNEWSHELLOHALOSCOPESA new det
Page 13 and 14: IMAGE COURTESY OF JACK RUSKMap of m
Page 15 and 16: Linguistics / Social NeuroscienceFO
Page 17 and 18: ImmunobiologyFOCUSWho is Mr. G?Mr.
Page 19 and 20: Ecology / Environment FOCUSTHE META
Page 21 and 22: Ecology / EnvironmentFOCUSSubalusky
Page 23 and 24: Molecular BiologyFOCUSVISUALIZINGTH
Page 25 and 26: Biomedical EngineeringFEATUREBOMB-S
Page 27 and 28: SPANISH “PERRO” VS.HUNGARIAN
Page 29 and 30: Medicine / PhysiologyFEATUREThe pig
Page 31 and 32: Artificial IntelligenceFEATUREIMAGE
Page 33 and 34: their grades twelve and eighteen mo
Page 35 and 36: ALUMNI PROFILEJAMES DIAOMY ’18BY
Page 37 and 38: REVIEWING THE ANTHROPOCENEREVIEWEDB
Page 39 and 40: BY DHRUV PATELHIDDENHISTORIESTHE SH

YSM Issue 95.1

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